Monday, January 29, 2007

I am several days late with this birthday post to Jack (it was on the 23rd) but better late than never. It is so hard to believe you are ONE year old! My memories of the day you were born are still so vivid. I remember being so surprised at how FAST you were born! I had Oprah on at 4:00 and I was visiting with Poppy and daddy and at 4:30 I started feeling LOTS of pressure. You I only had to push a few times and you were OUT by 4:57! I remember the fear in my heart as the nurses suctioned out all the junk in your mouth over and over and told us they needed to take you to the NICU. You just looked SO perfect and I just wanted to hold you and not let go!!! Daddy and I prayed over you before we handed you over to the nurses and as quickly as you got here, you were gone. The next 3 hours were so strange not getting to be with you. I remember being so thankful that you were going to be okay and crying for my friends who have had to give their babies back to the Lord for good. The Lord used that moment in my life to give me a window into the hearts of these friends. Although I have never had to experience giving one of my babies back to the Lord, I had a very small glimpse of how much it has to hurt. My heart hurt so much giving you to those nurses, and that was a fraction of what my precious friends have felt.

What a BLESSING you are, precious Jack. Your little smile appeared within your first month and hasn't gone away! You have such a sweet disposition. My favorite memories with you during the past year are lots of nights rocking you (one of the last things my grandma said to me before she went to be with Jesus is, "You rock those babies!!" so sometimes I even go in and get you after you are asleep and rock you some more!), watching you suck that thumb and play with your ear with your other hand, seeing your face light up when you see your sister and your daddy, hearing you take deep breaths and seeing that big smile when a cool breeze (sometimes a cold gust) hits your face, watching you army crawl EVERYWHERE (crawling on your hands and knees is SO overrated!), putting you to bed at night and having you be fidgity and fussy until I start singing and you immediately relax and snuggle up to me EVERY time. My list could go on and on. You are a joy to your dad, sister and me and to SO many others. God has such a great plan for your life. You will be such a mighty warrior for Him and I am confident that the Lord will use you to bring multitudes to know and serve our Almighty God. Like the scripture says on your wall, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 The Lord will direct you and lead you in ways that are hard to understand at times. It won't always make a lot of sense in your mind and you might not want to follow His lead. Follow Him. Seek HIS face ALWAYS. TRUST HIM COMPLETELY. He is the only one in your world who will NEVER let you down. He will NEVER fail you. Take time to BE STILL before HIM, and LISTEN to HIM. As much as your dad and I love you, HE loves you even MORE!!

What a wonderful, fun first year! I love and adore you more and more every day. Next to your dad, you and Hayley are the greatest gifts in my life. I'm looking forward to year #2 with you! Walking, talking, talking back----not YOU???!!! I love you forever. . .

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comments:

It was a great party and I can't wait to celebrate many more with our little ones. Take care and we need to hang out more. I'm really going to need some advice on how to handle two little ones. You seem to be doing great with it.

I wasn't fighting tears - I just had to let them go. The last few years have held so many experiences that help us to understand the unbelievable miracle of each new life. I think the feelings you described in your first paragraph may explain one reason I've had such a desire to not have my babies taken away from me for a second after they're born! I hadn't really thought about it before. I just want to hold them for weeks. Thank you, Lord, for our precious babies and all that You have in store for them! I love you, Jack!

Thanks for posting this for us to see, Shelly! It's such a sweet letter to Jack - I love that he will have that to look back on and know how you were feeling about him when he turned one, what you loved about him, what you prayed for him, what you challenged him with . . so good. Can I go pick up my baby from him bed and rock him some now, too??

I don't read blogs much and certainly don't comment, but I was led to read your blog on the shortcuts list. I really appreciate your post. Our children are so special. I know you make Trey feels the same way. God bless your family!

What a precious boy. It has been such a blessing of a year and I'm so thankful I've gotten to spend a lot of it with you & your family. We've had some great memories and I so look forward to watching those kids grow up! They're such sweeties. Love you!